The Museum of Conservative History?

Staff at the Museum of Civilization are concerned about the museum’s rebranding and new mandate.

Though museum staff have largely been kept in the dark about the impending changes, rumours of a name change have been swirling within the institution for months. Some staff have spoken openly of their fear that the museum could be turned into a propaganda arm.

The worry, said one staffer, is that the Canadian history stories that will be the subject of research and exhibitions will be identified by politicians across the Ottawa River rather than the museum’s own experts. “And that is quite worrisome,” the staffer said. “We’ve been told so far that we will be retaining our autonomy,” the staffer said. “But at the same time, the topics of exhibitions seem to either be dictated from across the river or chosen by (museum CEO Mark O’Neill) to please the people across the river.”

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The Museum of Conservative History?

A museum of Canadian history is a welcome addition in a province where the premier will push for “more room for the sovereignty question” in our high school history classes. Assuming the staff, and not politicians, dictate the exhibits, I don’t share the alarmism over this re-branding.

When Harper said “I make all the rules” he wasn’t kidding! He happens to be an Anglophile, so he renamed the Canadian Forces after the British monarchy and plans on joining our embassies underneath the British. Now he’s rewriting the history books without the slightest concern over what Canadians think. He has absolute corrupt power and he ain’t afraid to use it!

While Harper vandalizes the country, maybe we should reflect on our undemocratic voting system which allowed him to get unfettered power that a super-majority, no less, was opposed to. (A system Harper denounced as a “benign dictatorship” while in opposition.)

Almost all developed countries ensure a majority of voters is represented in government (the literal interpretation of democracy.) Perhaps we should give it a try.

The quickest way is with Instant Runoff Voting. This merely ensures MPs *earn* their seats with a majority of the local vote, keeping our existing (Westminster-style) system intact. Then if we get bad government, at least voters are the blame for it…

The problem with our voting system is that it elects the leading candidate and not the one a majority of voters decide on. This leads to arbitrary vote-splitting and voters getting saddled with politicians and governments they don’t want.

No political party elects the leading candidate on the first ballot as its leader. They always put in place some form of multi-ballot system to ensure the leader has majority support. If First-Past-the-Post is not good enough for political parties, it sure isn’t good enough to found our entire democracy on.

Ironically, Harper was elected leader of the Conservative party in 2004 using a complex system that incorporated IRV (preferential ballot) and Proportional Representation. He garnered absolute power on less than 40% of the vote — 60% of the electorate dead-set against him getting fake-majority power.

If we had IRV or PR that would not have happened. The will of the people would’ve decided the outcome of the election.

I know Harper has deserved people being very skeptical about his motives, but I think the fear mongering is a bit premature.
The Citizen cites the Minister not being happy about a sex expo at a museum to exemplify concerns after mentioning that he has previously said he thought it was a bad idea to have the government meddle in the affairs of a cultural institution. The Minister complained but did not do anything about it, it is exactly what you should want from a government official: they speak their mind but don’t abuse their office to get what they want.

Sorry, but who is carrying out what may very well be a rebranding exercise here, Wherry or the govt? Did Aaron invent the staff’s concerns, bribe them to offer up those quotes and express their concerns? We shouldn’t ask any questions then?

Why does my home country just keep getting more surreal? Why not just get it over and done with and re-brand it the Ministry of Truth, install a permanent Harper exhibit, and have special exhibits that revolve around what He thinks is important to Canadians.

If I ‘Left-Click’ on that link I’m sure to contract a computer virus – I’m sure of it. You men are beasts. You are a male, right?

“…….Just look at the pet you’re in……over a silly antiquated rule……”

“pet”?

Please to post a comment containing a link to an ‘about.com’ page which defines this word as you have engaged it that I won’t activate anyway for fear of viruses.
Just look at the ‘pet you’re in………..over your inability to recognise my silly antiquated humour.

I don’t have the foggiest idea what you’re on about.
[ no links to any bad viruses on my part]
But if you’re being subtly funny it’s gone over my head. Interactive blogging isn’t a place for subtly or nuance, surely you know this by now?

kcm2 on October 16, 2012 at 3:48 pm

“………I don’t have the foggiest idea what you’re on about…….”

I know and this is by design.

“………[ no links to any bad viruses on my part]……”

Oh dear!

“………But if you’re being subtly funny it’s gone over my head…….”

See my response to your first sentence.

“…….Interactive blogging isn’t a place for subtly or nuance,……”

It most assuredly is! Do you not think it possible that you might not be included in some of the interactions?

Is a name change in order? Aquarians love to fog, perhaps?
As for me i’m choking.Your ellipses are showing…it irks me.
Anything is possible. It’s why we play the game, isn’t it!

kcm2 on October 17, 2012 at 12:10 pm

Not to worry. We needn’t get too concerned. At least not until they start exhibiting the history of SH’s attempts to rebrand the country, promote the monarchy; stick royal labels on everything that moves; talk incessantly about military campaigns only from the perspective of guts glory and sacrifice; constantly point out the fact that the BNA did come waaay before the charter…soooo…and put his piano and personal Parliamentary photo gallery on permanent display in the foyer. …[might have stretched that last one a tad.]

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